Envelope filler



F. E. STRUVE ENVELOPE FILLER Nov. 19, 1935.

Filed Sept. 13. 1934 INVENTOR.

- fiederz'c%E: Sfrzaye ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 19, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFE ENVELOPE FILLER phia, Pa.

Application September 13, 1934, Serial No. 743,844

8 Claims.

The present invention relates to an envelope filler and has for its main object the provision of a device for facilitating the insertion of I mussable articles in envelopes or bags of thin,

6 flexible material, the device being particularly intended for use in placing articles of merchandise in cellophane or like transparent bags.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a device of the character mentioned, adapted to guide and maintain the article in proper desired shape when filling the envelope or bag, so that the article may be placed uniformly in the envelope, thus presenting a completed package of pleasing and attractive appearance.

Another important feature of the invention resides in the provision of an envelope filling device embodying rigid members cooperating to hold the mussable article and the envelope to enclose the same in proper relation for the purpose of positioning said article within the envelope, said device having means for allowing the free sliding of the article to prevent the latter from becoming wrinkled or mussed when drawn from the device into the envelope.

The invention further contemplates the provision of a device having a pair of companion plates capable of freely retaining therebetween in fiat or folded formation one or more articles of manufacture, such as a pair of knitted silk stockings, and receiving thereover a bag or envelope of cellophane or the like, said plates having means whereby the article of manufacture and the bag may be gripped together and simultaneously withdrawn from the plates, thus leaving the article Within the envelope.

It is also among the desiderata of the invention to provide an envelope filler essentially comprising a pair of plates cooperating to retain the article therebetween and to receive the envelope thereover, said plates having their corners adapted for introduction into the envelope formed with slanting edges which facilitate the engagement of the envelope with the plates and act to uniformly separate the envelope as it continues advancing over the plates.

Other important objects and advantages of the invention will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

50 In order that the invention and its mode of operation may be readily understood by those persons skilled in the art, I have, in the accompanying drawing and in the detailed description based thereupon set out the possible embodiments of the same. In this drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective of my improved device, showing the same in use.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section taken on line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transversal section taken on line 5 33 of Figure 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawing wherein like characters of reference will designate corresponding parts throughout, my improved device may be stated to include a flat 10 base i of suitable material, preferably having a substantially rectangular configuration, as shown, although it will be understood that said base may be given any shape dictated by necessity or convenience, and provided with an. up- 15 standing block 2 mounted rigidly upon said base and disposed adjacent one edge thereof.

Secured to the upper surface of the block 2 and extending therefrom to be supported above the major body portion of the base I in parallel- 20 ing relation thereto, is a pair of companion plates 3 and 4 respectively, made of rigid material, such as sheet metal, and adapted to receive therebetween the article A to be packaged, and also adapted to receive thereover the envelope E. 25 The bottom plate 3 is arranged stationarily in relation with the base I whereas the top plate A is adapted to have relative movement with respect to said base and the stationary plate 3.

For this purpose, a strip 5 is positioned im- 3 mediately upon that end portion of the bottom plate 3 lying on the block 2 and is secured thereto by means of bolts 5 or the like, passing through the strip 5 and said portion of the plate 3 into the block 2. The strip 5 is formed with an up- 35 wardly directed lip l having a band 8 hingedly connected thereto, as represented at 9 in the drawing, said band being fixedly attached to the top plate 4.

Because of the relative movement of one plate 0 with respect to the other it will be appreciated that the movable topplate i may be opened in order to properly position and arrange the article A upon the stationary bottom plate 3.

The plates 3 and 4 are provided with a pair of registering relatively different size recesses l0 opening intermediate the width of the plate at the free end thereof, said recesses forming a space through which is exposed a part of the article A so that the same may be gripped, together with the adjacent portions of the envelope E for simultaneous Withdrawal from the plates.

The diametrically opposed corners of the plates 3 and 4 at their free ends are preferably cut away in the manner illustrated at H to slightly and gradually reduce the width of the plates at said free ends, whereby the envelope E may be readily engaged over the plates, the tapering sides II acting as a wedge to evenly stretch the envelope for correct positioning on the plates.

According to the invention, it is preferable that the cooperating plates 3 and 4 be positively maintained in spaced relation when paralleling one another so that the top plate 3 will not press upon the article A, but will barely touch the same, Accordingly, a leaf spring I2 is riveted or otherwise secured to the bottom plate 3 adjacent the hinged connection 9, as will more clearly appear from Figures 2 and 3 of the drawing, which spring is bent to bear upon portions of both plates to normally prevent the top plate 3 from contacting with any substantial amount of force upon the article received between said plates when introduced into the envelope.

In using my improved device, the top plate 4 is moved away from the bottom plate 3 through the hinged connection 9. The article A to be packaged, such as a pair of silk stockings, is then placed upon the bottom plate near the free end thereof, whereupon the top plate is brought in paralleling relation with the bottom plate to enclose the article A therebetween. The envelope or bag E is then slipped over the plate in the position illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 1 of the drawing.

In this connection, it is to be noted that the tapering edges II of the plate corners will facilitate the introduction of the plates Within the bag and, as clearly represented in Figure 1, the envelope or bag E and the article A may be gripped at the registering recesses and withdrawn from the device, thus leaving the article within its envelope.

Because of the leaf spring I2 the plates 3 and 4 are normally held in spaced relation and, therefore, do not unduly press upon the article when being withdrawn from the device. Consequently, the article may slide freely which prevents its becoming wrinkled or mussed upon removal from between the retaining plates 3 and 4.

Manifestly, the construction shown and described is capable of considerable modifications, and those modifications that come within the scope of the claims I consider within the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. An envelope filler comprising paralleling companion plates adapted to receive therebetween the article to be packaged and capable of receiving the envelope thereover, said plates having means whereby the envelope and article may be gripped and simultaneously withdrawn from the plates, leaving the article within the envelope, and a leaf spring disposed between the plates and acting to normally maintain the same in spaced relation, to prevent undue frictional engagement of the plates with the article received therebetween.

2. An envelope filler comprising a ;base, a block rigid with said base and projecting upward ly therefrom adjacent one edge thereof, a pair of companion plates carried at one end portion by said block and extending therefrom to be supported above the base, means establishing a hinged connection between the plates whereby, when open, the article to be packaged may be received therebetween and, when closed, the envelope may be slipped thereover, said plates having recesses cut into their free end portions where by the envelope and article may be gripped and simultaneously withdrawn from the plates, leaving the article within the envelope, and means between the plates to normally hold the same slightly apart, thus preventing undue frictional engagement of the plates with the article contained therebetween.

3. An envelope filler comprising a base, a block rigid with said base and projecting upwardly therefrom adjacent one edge thereof, a pair of companion plates carried at one end portion by said block and extending therefrom to be supported above the base, means establishing a hinged connection between the plates, whereby when open the article to be packaged may be received therebetween and, when closed, the envelope may be slipped thereover, said plates having recesses cut into their free end portions whereby the envelope and article may be gripped and simultaneously withdrawn from the plates, leaving the article within the envelope, and means between the plates to normally hold the same slightly apart, thus preventing undue frictional engagement of the plates with the article contained therebetween, the corners at the free end portions of the plates being cut away to provide a tapered edge for guiding the introduction of the envelope over the plates.

4. A envelope filler comprising a base, a block rigid with said base and projecting upwardly therefrom adjacent one edge thereof, a pair of companion plates carried at one end portion by said block and extending therefrom to be supported above the base, means establishing a hinged connection between the plates whereby, when open, the article to be packaged may be received therebetween and, when closed, the envelope may be slipped thereover said plates having recesses cut into their free end portions whereby the envelope and article may be gripped and simultaneously withdrawn from the plates, leavingthe article within the envelope, the corners at the free end portions of the plates being cut away to provide a tapered edge for guiding the introduction of the envelope over the plates, and a leaf spring disposed between the plates adjacent the hinged connection thereof and acting to normally maintain the plates in spaced relation to prevent undue frictional engagement of the plates with the article received therebetween.

5. An envelope filler comprising relatively movable companion plates adapted to receive therebetween the article to be packaged and capable of receiving the envelope thereover for guiding said article therein, and means acting on the plates to yieldably maintain the same slightly apart to prevent undue frictional engagement of the plates with the article received therebetween.

6. An envelope filler comprising relatively movable companion plates adapted to receive therebetween the article to be packaged and capable of receiving the envelope thereover for guiding said article therein, and resilient means acting on the plates to normally maintain the same in spaced relation to prevent undue frictional engagement of the plates with the article received therebetween.

'7. An envelope filler comprising relatively movable companion plates adapted to receive therebetween the article to be packaged and capable of receiving the envelope thereover for guiding said article therein, and spring means carried by one plate and bearing on the other plate whereby to normally maintain the same in spaced relation to prevent undue frictional engagement of the plates with the article received therebetween.

8. An envelope filler comprising a first plate, a strip rigid with said plate and arranged over one face thereof, said strip having an offset lip, a second plate paralleling the first plate and hingedly connected to the offset lip of said strip whereby said plates may be separated for receiv-- ing the article to be: packaged and then brought together for receiving the envelope thereover, thus guiding the article therein, the offset lip of said strip fixedly supporting the second plate slightly away from the first plate at their point of hinged connection, and means acting on the plates to yieldably maintain the same slightly apart throughout their area when in paralleling relation, thereby preventing undue frictional engagement of the plates with the article received therebetween.

FREDERICK ELWOOD STRUVE. 

